A 57-year-old man suspected of shooting and killing San Jose Police Officer Michael Johnson was described by neighbors as being quiet and friendly.
Scott Dunham was “despondent” when family members called for help about 6:48 p.m. Tuesday because the female caller thought he might harm himself or others, police said.
According to the 911 call, the dispatcher said the caller worried about Dunham, who said "he'd kill her if she didn't leave," referring to Dunham's wife. The dispatcher also says Dunham "used pills five or six years ago" and may be bipolar. An officer is heard asking the dispatcher to do a weapons check on Dunham. The dispatcher confirmed he had a handgun, though no guns were registered in his name. Another officer is heard on the dispatch saying "I'm told there's all kinds of ammo in the house."
Police said Johnson, a 14-year veteran of the San Jose Police Department, was gunned down Tuesday night by a drunk, suicidal man during a welfare call. The man was later identified as Dunham.
Dunham was found dead on the apartment balcony at 3:20 a.m. Wednesday. He had suffered at least one gunshot wound. It's still unclear, however, if Dunham killed himself, or if he died as a result of the ensuing police gunfire.
San Jose Police Chief Larry Esquivel said there were no known previous calls to the address.
Dunham's family spent Wednesday moving items out of the apartment. Family members did not have any comment on Tuesday's fatal shooting or Dunham's state of mind.
Court records indicate Dunham was charged with three counts of battery and one count of resisting arrest in 1996 stemming from an incident with his wife that started when he refused to clean up after himself.
Dunham then pushed and choked his wife, and pulled his daughter's hair when she tried to break up the fight, according to court records. He plead no contest to the charges, spent three days in jail and was ordered to probation and counseling, along with a protective order. He petitioned the court to have the no contest changed to a "dismissal," records indicate.
Dunham is a former groundskeeper for the Foothill-De Anza College District.
Acting Chancellor Kevin McElroy said Dunham worked as a grounds gardener for the school from October 1998 to June of 2012 when he "resigned for purposes of retirement."
"It's kind of hard to believe, especially when it's someone so close to you," neighbor Ian Gurtowski said.
Another neighbor, Debbie Travaski, did not know Dunham but said her few interactions with him were always pleasant.
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"Nice smile, low key," Travaski said.
